Kitchen waste disposal unit



March 12, 1957 L. S. GORDON KITCHEN WASTE DISPOSAL UNIT Filed April 22, 1954 5/ i 50 59 59 A 52 Z8 52 /|nn\\\\ /2 29 /4 fio Q5,

INVENTOR.

L'EL/Q/UD 5. 6080010 United States tent KITCHEN WASTE DISPOSAL UNIT Leland S. Gordon, Montrose, Calif.

Application April 22, 1954, Serial No. 424,796

8 Claims. (Cl. 241-46) The present invention relates to kitchen waste disposal units in general and particularly to units of the type adapted to be connected to the drain of a kitchen sink to receive and comminute kite en waste material, commonly referred to as garbage, in order that it may be flushed into the sewage system without danger of clogging. More specifically the invention comprises a motordriven garbage disposal unit adapted to be mounted be low the kitchen sink and into which kitchen waste is fed to be ground into small particles suitable for passage through sewage pipes, the comminuting action to be accomplished by the cooperation of movable grinding ele ments with stationary elements, the danger of clogging of the unit itself being substantially eliminated by the improved mounting of the relatively movable parts.

:One of the serious problems present in such units is that of positively reducing the particle size while retaining Within the unit sufficient flexibility to prevent stalling and breakage. Heretofore units capable of effecting satisfactory comminution have lacked the ability to accommodate themselves to unusual or indigestible objects and as a result mechanical parts of the unit would either break or the driving motor would stall with resulting damage. In the unit constructed in accordance with the present invention, however, the cooperating disintegrating or comminuting elements of the apparatus are so constructed, mounted and related as to effect efiicient comm-inution and yet provide the safety factor heretofore missing.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a kitchen waste disposal unit positive in its disintegrating action and yet which is characterized by the adaptability of its parts which prevents clogging and breaking.

Another object of the invention is to provide a kitchen waste disposal unit incorporating grinding elements which in normal operation finely grind material and articles passing through the unit and yet which, upon encountering undigestible objects, adjust themselves to compensate for the presence of such objects without injury to the working parts.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a kitchen waste disposal unit in which rotatably mounted grinding elements normally travel in comminuting relationship to fixed grinding elements and in a predetermined orbit from which they are displaceable in the presence of undigestible objects.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a kitchen disposal unit in which the traversal of the material through the grinding path is improved and speeded.

The foregoing and other more particular objects of the invention will appear upon a consideration of the following specification and claims and upon considering in connection therewith the attached drawing to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawing in which the same reference character identifies the same part in the various views:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the device constructed in accordance with the present invention;

2,784,915 Patented Mar. 12, 1957 Figure 2 is a horizontal transverse section through the grinding chamber looking in the direction of the arrows upon the line 2--2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the lower portion of the grinding chamber of Figure 1 showing the rotatable grinding elements in section.

Referring again to the drawing, the device constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated and is to be recognized as a modification and improvement upon the type of construction disclosed in the patent to H. H. Miller 2,57 3,213, granted October 30, 1951. The construction is seen to embody a tubular duct which includes an upper portion 1 flanged at its upper end at 2 to overlie the drain opening 4- in a conventional sink 3, a jamb nut 6 being provided upon the threaded exterior of duct 1 to clamp the latter in place. Threadedly attached to the lower end of duct 1 is an enlarged duct portion or body 7 provided at its upper end with an interiorly threaded reduced neck 3 which merges into the main enlarged portion of body 7 through a shoulder 9 and which is retained in position upon the duct 1 by the cooperation of a jamb nut 11. Body or duct member 7 is interiorly and exteriorly cylindricnl but is provided at its lower end with an outwardly flared portion or flange 12 which terminates in a short downwardly extending cylindrical wall 13. lnteriorly, and from a point just below the shoulder 9, the surface of body '7 is provided with a plurality of shallow longitudinally extending recesses or channels 14 which also extend along the underside of the flange 12 and down the inner face of wall 13. Channels 14 provide between themselves ridges or ribs 15 having inwardly facing surfaces which lie upon and conform to the surface of a cylinder the axis of which is the axis of the central cylindrical portion of body 7. Upon reaching the flared flange 12, however, the ribs, of course, extend outwardly and no longer conform to the cylinder surface.

The exact width of the channels, grooves or recesses 14, and the exact width of the ribs or ridges 15, are not of the essence and the ribs may be equally spaced, unequally spaced, and may have the same or difierent widths. Attention is particularly directed to the extension of the grinding ribs or ridges 15 along the underside of the flange 12, where they bear the reference character 15a, and also along the inner surface of the depending wall 13 where they are denoted by the reference character 15b.

The lower end of the duct or body '7 is connected to a discharge bowl, indicated generally by the reference charactor 17, which is shaped to conform to and seat the downwardly depending wall 13 of body '7 and to define an annular discharge passage 13 from which at one peripheral point extends a discharge opening or port 19 to which the threaded end of a discharge pipe 21 may be connected. Bowl 17 is also provided. centrally with a collar or hub portion 22 through which. extends a motordriven shaft 23 rotatably mounted in a ball bearing 24. Bearing 24 is protected from the interior of the bowl and the contents of its passage 18 by a bearing seal 26 which may be understood to be of conventional design forming no part of the present invention.

The comminuting or grinding chamber formed within the body 7 is spaced from the discharge passage 18 formed in the bowl 17 by a rotatable head indicated generally by the reference character 27 which is fixedly connected to the upper end of the motor-driven shaft 23 by means of a clamping nut 28. Head 27 is seen to comprise a circular plate-like member the upper surface of which lies at the bottom of the inner cylindrical surface of the duct body 7 and which is formed with a fluted conical ledge 29 which extends parallel to and closely adjacent the interior surface of the body flange 12. The cylindrical side or edge wall of head 27 faces 3 the downwardly extending ribs b of encircling wall 13.

A pair of rotatable grinding elements, indicated generally by the reference character 3%, are rotatably mounted upon the head 27 and each is seen to comprise a substantially cylindricalbody 31 formed exteriorly with circumferentially spaced vertically extending narrow ribs or cutting edges 32. Each grinding or comminutingelement is centrally recessed at 33 to provide a seat which is mounted upon the pin 3d extended above the head 27 from a cylindrical base 35 which is mounted rotatably in its seat 36 in the head and at a distance from the axis of rotation comprising the shaft 23. A nut 37 seats upon the upper end of the pin 34 and retains the grinding element 30 the structure of which is completed by the presence on its upper surface of a pair of radially extending wings or blades 3%. Each blade or wing 39 is preferably sharpened at its outer vertical edge or at least is narrowed to provide a cutting edge and has a height, as is clearly seen in the drawing, such that it extends above the end of the adjacent pin 35 and the nut 37 which it seats. Each cutting element 30 is, as stated, rotatable upon its carrying pin 34 comprising an eccentric reduced portion of the base 35, and in the operation of the unit, as will subsequently be described, is rotated as the head 27 rotates and compresses waste material between itself and the enclosing ribbed wall of the body 7.

The lower extremity of each base 35 is provided with an enlarged shoulder, as indicated at 41, which abuts the underside of the head 27 to prevent upward displacement. A spring mounting post 42 extends downwardly from each base 35, and specifically from a point adjacent the periphery of its shoulder 41 which is eccentric with respect to the central axis of the base 35 and upon the same side thereof as the eccentric pin 34. Post 42 is connected by a tension coil spring 43 to a fixed post 44 which depends from head 27 a short distance inside its peripheral side wall. Spring 43 at all times exerts a force upon the post 42 tending to draw it towards the fixed post 44, that is, into the position of the left-hand grinding element Edi in both Figures 1 and 2. So positioned the orbit of the cutting ridges 32 of that grinding element is spaced an extremely small distance from the ridges or ribs 15 of the grinding chamber, a spacing, for example, of about .005 inch. Under the actuation of a force upon the grinding element 30 tending to force it from the enclosing chamber wall, however, the pin 34 by which it is mounted is forced inwardly effecting the rotation of the base 35 in its seat 36 and the extension of the spring 43 from its shortened normal condition, illustrated in the left sides of Figures 1 and 3, into its extended tensioned position illustrated in the right side of each of those figures. With the spring so tensioned the grinding element 39 is spaced a greater distance from the enclosing wall of the grinding chamber, its maximum spacing being as illustrated in the right-hand grinding elements of Figures 1 and 3, and objects which would otherwise cause breakage are permitted to pass between the grinding element and the cylinder wall without doing damage.

Water supply means 45 are provided in the upper duct portion l and comprise a conduit 46 having a plurality of downwardly directed water discharge apertures 47. Conduit to is seated upon an interior shoulder 4% inside the duct 1. A nipple 49 connects the interior of conduit 46 with a suitable source of water supply and when water is directed therethrough it emerges from the apertures or ports 47 and passes downwardly into the main grinding chamber formed by the body 7.

To prevent material being ground within the unit from being accidentally thrown upwardly through the duct portion 1 and into the open sink there is provided at the upper end of the duct 1 a baffle member indicated generally by the reference character 50 which may comprise a flat resilient diaphragm or wall 51 preferably provided with slitted openings and with a peripheral flange 52 which is clamped to the encircling wall of duct 1 by a spring re taining ring 53. Baffle 50 normally extends across the upper end of the duct 1 but being flexible objects can'be forced downwardly therethrough and into the duct which comprises the entrance passage into the grinding cham- 5 her.

In the operation and use of the waste disposal unit constructed in accordance-withthe present invention, the waste material to be handled is passed downwardly through baffle 59 and into the comminuting or grinding chamber within the central body '7, the unshown electrical driving motor first being energized so that the shaft 23 and the head 27 mounted'fixedly thereon are rotating, and the grinding elements 30 being in their outer radial positions and moving in close adjacency to the ribs 15 of the grinding chamber wall. As material is engaged by the rotary grinding unit it is caught between the grinders 3d and the enclosing wall and crushed, cutand ground into small discrete particles, the elements 30 rotating upon their own axes during this action and as they roll around the interior of the chamber. As the materialis ground it works its way downwardly into the outwardly flaring passage between the body flange 12 and the conical fluted surface 25- of the head in which area the grinding action continues between the head and the ribs 15a. .The material then passes into and through the downwardly extended grinding zone between the peripheral side wall of the head 27 and the vertical ribs 15b on the downwardly extending wall 13 of the central body. Water has been entering the unit during this operation from the Water supply means i5 supplemented, if desired, by-additional water flowing downwardly from the sink and throughthe baflle 5b. This water washes the comminuted material downwardly and into the discharge passage 18 from which it makes its way into the discharge port or duct '19 and thence into the sewage system via the connected pipe21.

The cutting blades or knives 39 upon the top of the elements 3t perform during this operation a shredding, cutting and tearing function to aid in the disintegrating operation, being particularly helpful in connection with large leaves, stalks, etc., of vegetables which otherwise might tend to be wedged in the grinding chamber above the grinding elements. In normal operation, and'in the absence of waste material of excessive hardness, the grinders will move closely adjacent the enclosing ribbed wall surface of the grinding chamber, each grinding element 39 being positioned as shown in the left-hand grinder of Figure 3, for example. Let it be assumed, however, that a hard object, such as a bone or rock too large to be disintegrated in the grinding operation by a 50 single contact by a roller 30, makes its way between a grinding element and the chamber wall. In such case, as this object is wedged between the roller and the encircling chamber wall, the roller is forced inwardly on the head 27 its carrying pin 34 moving around the center "of the carrying base 35 and against the resisting vforce exerted of the connected coil spring 43. The grinding element 34) is moved until finally it is displaced from its normal position into that illustrated for the righthand grinder in Figures 1 and 3. If the object is smaller in 60 size the roller may be displaced inwardly a lesser distance. The grinding ridges or ribs 32 of the grinder elementare now spaced an appreciable distance from the encircling grinding wall so that the object can pass, therebyieliminating the danger of breakage, stalling and potential injury to the parts. Repeated passes of the grindingxelements over the object tend to wear it down in steps so that, in many instances, it is finally digested by the unit;

While the particular apparatus herein shownand .described in detail is fully capable of attaining thetobjects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, .it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative 'of "the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims,

I claim:

1. In a device for the disposal of kitchen waste and the like, the combination which comprises: a duct member provided with a vertically extending generally cylindrical portion defining a comminuting zone and provided with a plurality of angularly spaced inwardly projecting rib members having inwardly directed surfaces lying in a surface of revolution about the axis of said duct portion; a head member rotatably disposed sub-jacent said zone for rotation co-axial with said portion and providing a bottom wall for said Zone; means for rotating said head member; a plurality of comminuting elements carried by said head member in arcuately spaced relation, said comminuting elements being of generally cylindrical peripheral outline with their axes extending upwardly from said head member into said zone, parallel to the axis of rotation of said head member; and a pair of pins each eccentrically positioned on, fixedly secured to, and projecting upward from a rotatable base seated in said head member and rotatably supporting the respective comminuting elements on said head member for rotation individually within said comminuting zone, resilient means positioned outside said comminuting zone resiliently urging said bases angularly to position said pins in their outermost radial positions to place said comminuting elements adjacent said rib members, said elements being individually displaceable inwardly from said rib members under a force exerted thereagainst of suflicient magnitude to overcome said resilient means, the diameter of said comminuting elements and the spacing thereof from each other on said head member in their normal operating position being such with respect to the internal diameter of said cylindrical portion of said duct member as to cause the peripheral outline of said elements to be disposed in closely spaced relation to said inwardly directed surfaces of said rib members and to define a central unobstructed space at the upper surface of said head member within the annular zone traversed by said elements during rotation of said head member.

2. In a device for the disposal of kitchen waste and the like, the combination which comprises: a tubular duct member defining a comminuting zone having a vertically extending axis of symmetry and provided with a plurality of angularly spaced inwardly projecting rib members lying tangent at their inner ends to a surface of revolution about said axis; a head member rotatably disposed below said zone for rotation about said axis and having an upper surface cooperating with said duct member to define a bottom end wall for said zone; means for rotating said head member; a plurality of comminuting members of generally circular cross section mounted on said head member and extending upwardly within said comminuting zone from adjacent said upper surface; a plurality of pins eccentrically mounted upon rotatable bases carried by said head member and projecting upwardly from said head member, each of said pins rotatably supporting a comminuting member for rotation about its own axis, for rotation with said head member, and for radial adjustment upon said head member upon rotation of its own supporting base on said head; and means positioned outside said comminuting zone connected to said bases and resiliently urging said pins to their outermost radial positions with respect to said head in which said comminuting members move in a circular path making minimum clearance with said rib members, each pin, and the comminuting member mounted thereon, being adapted to move radially inwardly with respect to said head upon the exertion of a force through said comminuting member to said pin sufficient to overcome the force exerted by the resilient means acting thereon.

3. The construction recited in claim 2 characterized in that the bases for said pins extend downwardly through said head and said means resiliently urging said pins to their outermost radial positions are positioned below said head and outside of said comminuting zone.

4. The construction recited in claim 3 characterized in that said means resiliently urging said pins to their outermost radial positions comprise springs connected between said bases and said head on the underside of the latter and which exert forces on said bases to rotate them to positions in which the pins carried by them are positioned at their maximum distances from said axis of symmetry.

5. In a device for the disposal of kitchen waste and the like, a body providing a cylindrical chamber, a flared downwardly sloping flange at the lower end of said chamber, and an enlarged cylindrical wall at the outer end of said flange, the inner surfaces of said chamber, flange, and said enlarged cylindrical wall being formed with fixed comminuting elements spaced by continuous channels; a rotatable comminuting unit closing the lower end of said chamber comprising a head contoured and sized as to extend across the lower end of said chamber and adjacent to and in closed spaced relationship with the inner surfaces of said flange and enlarged cylindrical wall, a rotatable grinding member, displaceable means mounting said grinding member on said head for revolution with said head about the axis of rotation of said head and for rotation about its own axis, said displaceable means being movable on said head to vary the radial distance separating the axes of rotation of said head and said grinding member, and resilient means positioned below said head urging said displaceable means to provide the maximum radial separation between said axes with a force of a magnitude which may be overcome by pressure exerted by a relatively hard object passing between a rotatable grinding member and said cylindrical chamber.

6. The construction recited in claim 5 characterized in that said displaceable means comprise a pin rotatably supporting said grinding member and itself mounted eccentrically upon a base rotatable in said head about an axis parallel to and spaced radially from the axis of rotation of said head.

7. The construction recited in claim 6 characterized in that said base extends downwardly through said head to the underside thereof, and in that said resilient means comprises a tension spring on the underside of said head and outside of said cylindrical chamber connected between said head and said base at a point at which it tends to hold said base in its rotational position with respect to said head in which said pin has its maximum displacement from the axis of rotation of said head.

8. The construction recited in claim 6 characterized in that a plurality of grinding members are mounted on said head in .arcuately spaced relationship, each having its own resilient means urging its supporting pin to its outermost radial position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,358,739 Herbert Nov. 16, 1920 1,452,088 Miller et a1. Apr. 17, 1923 2,573,213 Miller Oct. 30, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS;

85,056 Germany Apr. 23, 1895 

